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2 Strong Quakes Hit Southwest China, One Dead

VOA News

   Two strong earthquakes hit China's southwestern Sichuan province late
   Monday, with state media reporting at least one death.
   The U.S. Geological Survey said the first quake of 5.9 magnitude, was
   followed shortly afterwards by a 5.2 quake in the same area. Both
   quakes were centered near the city of Changning in a largely rural area
   and registered a shallow depth.
   Shallow earthquakes tend to cause more damage to buildings and
   infrastructure and the U.S. Geological Survey warned there could be
   significant damage from the quakes.
   Chinese state television said rescuers at the epicenter of the quake
   had already pulled some people from the rubble alive. It said at least
   one person had died, but did not give further details.
   Residents in Chongqing, the nearest major city to the epicenter about
   200 kilometers away, reporting feeling shaking from the quake. State
   media said some houses in the city were damaged, but said no injuries
   were reported there.
   Earthquakes regularly strike Sichuan, where a large tremor in 2008 left
   nearly 90,000 people dead.

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